Brother Ken Kalinowski, FSC, De La Salle Collegiate Class of 1984, offered these thoughts on the passing of Brother Patrick McNally

Brother Patrick Michael McNally, age 87, Bro. Pat was the fourth oldest of six siblings in a vibrant, Irish Catholic family. 

Brother Pat was an alumnus of St. Joseph’s High School in Detroit, where he met the De La Salle Brothers and entered religious life in 1956, dedicating 68 years to the brotherhood, a testament to his unwavering faith and devotion.

Brother Pat earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Catholic University of America in 1960, and a Masters Degree in Biology from Catholic University in 1968.

Brother Pat served in New York City, Staten Island, Lincroft, NJ - but served 41 years of his life here at De La Salle Collegiate in Detroit and Warren. Brother served as Vocation Director, Religion teacher, Dean of Discipline, Campus Minister, and the ministry that he may be remembered for the most would be the longtime moderator of the Christian Brothers Auxiliary, known as the CBA at DeLaSalle.

He became the Director of Alumni Relations for St. Joe’s alumni, and ran De La Salle’s Wig and Mask Society, which all of us as alumni know  - he involved the entire student body in each year’s musicals. If you couldn’t sing, he had people who could teach you to dance, or to create the sets, doing stage crew - lighting - or as an usher. No one could ever say, “No” - he had a gentle way of getting each of us out of our comfort zones and trying something new. 

As I later lived with him, I often wondered where would he find the funds to have the WAMS budget balance, he just had that way of letting businesses or people know what he needed - and funds would appear. It was as if no one could ever turn him down with his personal and genuine approach. The musicals would attract the attention of all the girl schools  - of course Regina, but those in my generation remember Dominican and Star of the Sea. Brother Pat made everyone feel important and welcome, calling them by name.

For a time, Brother Pat and his longtime friend Brother Casimir would lead ski trips to northern Michigan and to Colorado. His journeys took him to the far corners of the world, including Hawaii, Alaska, Australia, Ireland, and Italy. Each trip was a chapter in his book of life, filled with stories and memories that he would fondly recount. Brother Pat was a Brother to his fellow brothers, with close friends Brothers Robert Carnaghi and Gabe Fagan, who are probably giving him the tour of the heavenly kingdom.

Brother Pat enjoyed spending most holidays and every summer up at Higgins Lake at the family cottage. Many extended relatives would also make the trip up whenever they could. The close sense of family was not only prevalent by their visits to Pat at DeLaSalle Hall in his last two years, but by the pride he took when he shared stories about them.

Brother Pat's commitment to his students extended far beyond the classroom. Even after retirement, he cherished the time spent with them and maintained close relationships with many alumni, spanning several decades. In speaking with Brother Charles Lackes, who is the Director of De La Salle Hall he said by far, Brother Pat received the most mail of any Brother he knew in his community. In the last 2 years, hundreds of letters and cards were addressed to Brother Pat, and he would write to each person with an update on the events of his life, his genuine concern for them, and his gratitude for their kindness of thinking of him. 

Brother Pat is survived by numerous loving nieces, nephews, and cousins, who will carry forward the light of his spirit. Pat’s family of the De La Salle Brothers knew all that he did so quietly and without fanfare.

I had asked the CBA if there were final words that they would use to describe him. The litany - he handled each situation with grace and style, he was kind, gentle, happy, and a role model for so many - how blessed were we to have him as a servant of God to so many people.

There are many beloved memories that we can share of our Beloved Brother.  Keep them always in your heart, “for nothing is really lost to us as long as we remember”.

As a life fully lived, I am sure that Our Lord, and St. John Baptiste de La Salle met him at the gates of heaven saying, “Welcome home, you good and faithful servant!” Let us remember to pray for him, and to ask him to pray for us!